Gasoline vapor recovery

ABSTRACT

A vapor recovery device in which the vapors expelled from a tank into which gasoline is being pumped is conducted into a container in which cooling coils are disposed for cooling of the vapors flowing upwards around these coils. Also disposed in the container, downstream of the flow path of the vapors, is a spray ring for spraying refrigerated gasoline downwardly for absorption of the vapors cooled by the cooling coils. The coolant for the cooling coils and the spray ring is obtained from the lower section of the container containing gasoline refrigerated by means of a commonly known refrigeration system. The device may include beds of packing material positioned in the flow path of the vapors and refrigerated gasoline to increase vapor recovery.

United States Patent Schonewald et al.

[ 5] Mar. 14, 1972 GASOLINE VAPOR RECOVERY Roger L. Schonewald; VictorKevorkian, both of Belle Mead, NJ.

lngersoll-Rand Research Inc., Princeton, NJ.

Filed: Mar. 26, 1970 Appl. No.: 22,880

Inventors:

Assignee:

US. Cl ..55/88, 55/269, 62/54, 220/85 VR Int. Cl ..Cl0g 5/06, F170 13/00Field of Search ..55/33, 88, 84, 222, 269; 62/50, 51, 54, 17; 220/85 VR,85 VS References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,266,262 8/1966 Moragne..62/54 2,976,695 3/1961 Meade ..62/54 2,947,379 8/1960 Aubrey ..55/883,191,395 6/1965 Maheretal ..62/54 Primary Examiner-Charles N. HartAttorney-Frank S. Troidl and David W. Tibbott [5 7] ABSTRACT A vaporrecovery device in which the vapors expelled from a tank into whichgasoline is being pumped is conducted into a container in which coolingcoils are disposed for cooling of the vapors flowing upwards aroundthese coils. Also disposed in the container, downstream of the flow pathof the vapors, is a spray ring for spraying refrigerated gasolinedownwardly for absorption of the vapors cooled by the cooling coils. Thecoolant for the cooling coils and the spray ring is obtained from thelower section of the container containing gasoline refrigerated by meansof a commonly known refrigeration system. The device may include beds ofpacking material positioned in the flow path of the vapors andrefrigerated gasoline to increase vapor recovery.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARM 1972 3,648,436

WW 3b INVENTORS F ROGER L, SCHONEWALD Warm? KEVOfi GASOLINE VAPORRECOVERY This invention relates to a system for the recovery ofliquefiable components of hydrocarbon vapors, and more particularly tothe recovery of gasoline components from vapors expelled from tanksduring filling thereof.

In loading truck, railroad, ship and other tanks with volatilehydrocarbon liquids, in particular gasoline, the space within the tankswill decrease progressively, and because of the lighter componentsvaporizing rapidly, substantial quantities of vapor are forced to escapefrom the tiller openings around the filler nozzles of the tanks into theatmosphere and lost therein. Such escape is undesirable not only becausethe vapors involved often create serious health, fire, air pollution andexplosion hazards, but also because of the attendant economic loss ofhydrocarbon components.

Presently used vapor recovery systems generally require rather extensiveapparatus and systems including equipment for pumping, compressing,refrigeration, condensating, and fractionating operations which aregenerally expensive and comparatively inefficient, inparticular thatequipment for refrigeration to substantial low temperatures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel system of vaporrecovery which is simple and relatively inexpensive.

While the invention is shown and described in connection with thefilling of gasoline truck tanks it is to be understood that the novelsystem according to the invention is adaptable for use in connectionwith other volatile liquids which may be combustile or not.

The above and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a tank filling and vapor recovery systemaccording to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a modified portion of the system of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 the novel vapor recovery system includes a loadingplatform P on which is disposed a tank truck T for receiving a volatilehydrocarbon liquid such as gasoline pumped to the tank truck through afiller pipeline F, partly shown. Filler pipeline F extends through avapor collecting hood H adapted to be fitted around the filler nozzle,not shown, extending from the filler pipeline F into the interior oftank truck T. The vapor collecting hood H is in free communication withthe interior of the tank truck and is provided with a vapor outletconduit extending therefrom. Conduit 10 extends into a container 12 intowhich the vapor from tank truck T is conducted for reduction to liquidand collection thereof for further suitable use or reintroduction intothe gasoline being pumped.

Container 12 includes two sections, an upper section 12A and a lowersection 12B. Upper section 12A includes a vapor space 12V in which isprovided a coolant spraying or distribution device 36 and a cooling unit13 comprising a plurality of cooling coils 14, 16 and 18 through which acoolant is pumped, as will be explained hereinafter. Lower section 12Bis in the form of a reservoir 20 for storage of a predetermined quantityof coolant, preferably gasoline. Since the gasoline in reservoir 20 isto serve as a coolant for the spraying device 36 and the cooling unit13, a refrigeration system 22 of conventional design is provided torefrigerate the gasoline in reservoir 20 by means of a cooling coil 24extending into reservoir 20. In order to supply the cooling unit 13 andthe spraying device 36 with the coolant, a pump 26 is provided to pumpthe refrigerated gasoline from reservoir 20 through a conduit 28 to theinlet 30 connected to coil 14 of cooling unit 13 in the upper section12A thereof. For the discharge of the coolant pumped through coils 14,16 and 18 of cooling unit 13, there is provided a discharge conduit 32connected to the discharge 34 of coil 18 of cooling unit 13 andextending into the gasoline in reservoir 20.

The coolant spraying or distribution device provided in upper section12A is preferably in the form of a spray ring- 36 positioned up-streamof or above coils 14, 16 and 18 and adapted to spray or distribute acoolant downwardly into vapor space 12V, for purposes to be explainedhereinafter. The supply of coolant to spray ring 36 is achieved by meansof a branch conduit 38 having one end connected to spray ring 36 and itsother end connected to conduit 28. With this arrangement a portion ofthe coolant pumped by pump 26 is conducted to coils 14, 16 and 18 ofcooling unit 13 while the other portion of the coolant pumped by pump 26is conducted to spray ring 36.

Also provided in container 12 is a tray 40 suitably positioned at thelower end of vapor space 12V to catch and accumulate the sprayed coolantand vapor absorbed therein flowing downwards from vapor space 12, aswill be explained hereinafter. The coolant and vapor absorbed thereinaccumulated in tray 40 is discharged therefrom through a conduit 42connected to a pump 44 for further conveyance and use. A conduit 46 isprovided at the upper end of upper section 12A for the conductance toatmosphere of the uncondensable gases introduced into vapor space 12V.

Operation of the vapor recovery device is as follows: As gasoline isbeing pumped from a source of supply, not shown, through filler pipelineF, partly shown, into tank truck T, the vapors displaced by the gasolineas it is being pumped into the tank truck T, are displaced therefrominto hood H by the gasoline introduced into the tank. The vapors forcedfrom tank T into hood H are conducted therefrom through conduit 10 intothe lower portion of upper section 12A of container 12. Afterintroduction into the lower portion of upper section 12A the vapors flowupwardly into vapor space 12V in which cooling coils 14, 16 and 18 ofcooling unit 13 are disposed. Since coils 14, 16 and 18 are being cooledas a result of refrigerated gasoline from reservoir 20 being drawntherefrom by pump 26 and pumped through conduit 28, inlet 30, coils 14,16, 18 discharge 34, and discharge conduit 32, the vapors flowing aroundcooling coils 14, 16 and 18 are cooled. It is to be noted thatrefrigeration of the gasoline in reservoir 20 is achieved by means ofthe refrigeration circulating coil 24 disposed within the gasoline inreservoir 20 and extending from a commonly known refrigeration system22. It is to be noted that refrigeration of the gasoline fordistribution to spray ring 36 or cooling coils 14, 16 and 18 can also beachieved by modifying the system shown in FIG. 1, namely by applying thecirculating coil 24 of refrigeration system 22 in a heat exchanger 48connected to conduit 28, as shown in FIG. 2. With this arrangement thegasoline to be pumped from reservoir 20 to cooling coils 14, 16 and 18is cooled in heat exchanger 48 as it flows through conduit 28.

As the vapors are being cooled by flowing around cooling coils 14, 16and 18, refrigerated gasoline is also pumped by pump 26 to conduit 38and spray ring 36 so that refrigerated gasoline is sprayed into vaporspace 12V and cascades over and around cooling coils 14, 16 and 18 forpurposes of absorbing and recovering the cooled vapor in vapor space12V. The sprayed refrigerated gasoline and vapors absorbed thereby flowsdownwards and is accumulated in tray 40 from where the gasoline andrecovered vapors are drawn off through conduit 42 by pump 44 and furtherconducted to storage or any suitable use.

It is to be noted that recovery of the vapors may be increased by theprovision of one or more beds of packing material, such as Raschigrings, in the flow path of the vapors and the sprayed refrigeratedgasoline. As shown in FIG. 3 the beds of Raschig rings or other suitablepacking material, designated numeral 50, are positioned between thecooling coils 14, 16 and 18. With this arrangement the area of exposureof the sprayed refrigerated gasoline and the vapors to each other isincreased, thus ensuring a maximum recovery of the vapors. By the timethe vapors have reached the space above the distributor or spray ring36,. practically nothing but air or other non-condensable gases remainfor venting through conduit 46.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, it is to beunderstood that various changes and modifications can be made in itsconstruction without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into which a volatileliquid is introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank,comprising a container connected to said tank for flow of said vapors insaid container,

means to cause said vapors in said container to be cooled,

a source of refrigerant,

means to conduct said refrigerant for exposure thereof in said containerto the flow of said cooled vapors to absorb said vapors, and

means to discharge only said exposed refrigerant and absorbed vaporsfrom said container.

2. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into which a volatileliquid is introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank,comprising a container connected to said tank for flow of said vapors insaid container,

means in said container to cause said vapors to be cooled,

a source of refrigerant,

means to distribute said refrigerant in said container for exposurethereof to said flowing cooled vapors to absorb said vapors, and

means to discharge only said distributed refrigerant and absorbed vaporfrom said container.

3. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into which a volatileliquid is introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank,comprising a container connected to said tank for flow of said vapors insaid container,

a source of refrigerant,

a cooling coil disposed in said container in the flow path of saidvapors connected to said source of refrigerant to cool said vaporsflowing therearound,

distribution means in said container positioned downstream of the flowpath of said vapors connected to said source of refrigerant to causesaid refrigerant to be distributed for exposure to said flowing cooledvapors to thereby absorb said vapors, and

means to discharge only said exposed refrigerant and said absorbedvapors from said container.

4. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into which a volatileliquid is introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank,comprising a container having an upper section and a lower section,

said upper section of said container being connected to said tank forsaid vapors to flow from the lower end portion towards the upper endportion of said upper section of said container,

a cooling coil disposed in said upper section of said container in theflow path of said vapors,

distribution means disposed in said upper section of said containerdownstream of the flow path of said vapors,

said lower section of said container containing a portion of saidvolatile liquid, refrigeration means operably associated with saidvolatile liquid in said lower section of said container to refrigeratesaid volatile liquid, means to supply said refrigerated volatile liquidto said cooling coil and said distribution means to cause said vapors tobe cooled and to cause said volatile liquid to be distributed andexposed to said flowing cooled vapors to effect absorbtion of saidcooled vapors by said refrigerated volatile'liquid, and means todischarge only said exposed volatile liquid and vapors absorbed therebyfrom said container. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including atleast one body of packing material positioned in the flow path of saidvapors and said distributed liquid to increase exposure of saiddistributed liquid to said vapors.

6. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into Wl'llCh a gasolineis introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank, comprising acontainer having an upper section and a lower section, said uppersection of said container being connected to said tank for said vaporsto flow from the lower end portion towards the upper end portion of saidupper section of said container, a cooling coil disposed in said uppersection of said container in the flow path of said vapors, distributionmeans disposed in said upper section of said container downstream of theflow path of said vapors, said lower section of said containercontaining a portion of said gasoline, refrigeration means operablyassociated with said gasoline in said lower section of said container torefrigerate said gasoline, means to supply said refrigerated gasoline tosaid cooling coil and said distribution means to cause said vapors to becooled and to cause said gasoline to be distributed and exposed to saidflowing cooled vapors to effect absorbtion of said cooled vapors by saidrefrigerated gasoline, and means to discharge only said exposed gasolineand vapors absorbed thereby from said container. 7. Method of collectingand recovering vapors evolved during the filling of a tank with avolatile liquid, comprising:

collecting the vapors in a container, cooling said vapors, cooling aportion of said volatile liquid, absorbing said cooled vapors in a flowof said cooled volatile liquid within the container, and recovering onlysaid flow of volatile liquid and vapors absorbed therein from thecontainer. 8. Method of collecting and recovering vapors evolved duringthe filling of a tank with gasoline, comprising:

collecting the vapors in a container, cooling said vapors, cooling aportion of said gasoline, distributing said cooled gasoline within thecontainer in the flow of said vapors to absorb said vapors, andrecovering only said distributed gasoline and said vapors absorbedtherein from Said container.

2. Apparatus for recovering vapors from a tank into which a volatileliquid is introduced and said vapors are forced out of said tank,comprising a container connected to said tank for flow of said vapors insaid container, means in said container to cause said vapors to becooled, a source of refrigerant, means to distribute said refrigerant insaid container for exposure thereof to said flowing cooled vapors toabsorb said vapors, and means to discharge only said distributedrefrigerant and absorbed vapor from said container.
 3. Apparatus forrecovering vapors from a tank into which a volatile liquid is introducedand said vapors are forced out of said tank, comprising a containerconnected to said tank for flow of said vapors in said container, asource of refrigerant, a cooling coil disposed in said container in theflow path of said vapors connected to said source of refrigerant to coolsaid vapors flowing therearound, distribution means in said containerpositioned downstream of the flow path of said vapors connected to saidsource of refrigerant to cause said refrigerant to be distributed forexposure to said flowing cooled vapors to thereby absorb said vapors,and means to discharge only said exposed refrigerant and said absorbedvapors from said container.
 4. Apparatus for recovering vapors from atank into which a volatile liquid is introduced and said vapors areforced out of said tank, comprising a container having an upper sectionand a lower seCtion, said upper section of said container beingconnected to said tank for said vapors to flow from the lower endportion towards the upper end portion of said upper section of saidcontainer, a cooling coil disposed in said upper section of saidcontainer in the flow path of said vapors, distribution means disposedin said upper section of said container downstream of the flow path ofsaid vapors, said lower section of said container containing a portionof said volatile liquid, refrigeration means operably associated withsaid volatile liquid in said lower section of said container torefrigerate said volatile liquid, means to supply said refrigeratedvolatile liquid to said cooling coil and said distribution means tocause said vapors to be cooled and to cause said volatile liquid to bedistributed and exposed to said flowing cooled vapors to effectabsorbtion of said cooled vapors by said refrigerated volatile liquid,and means to discharge only said exposed volatile liquid and vaporsabsorbed thereby from said container.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4including at least one body of packing material positioned in the flowpath of said vapors and said distributed liquid to increase exposure ofsaid distributed liquid to said vapors.
 6. Apparatus for recoveringvapors from a tank into which a gasoline is introduced and said vaporsare forced out of said tank, comprising a container having an uppersection and a lower section, said upper section of said container beingconnected to said tank for said vapors to flow from the lower endportion towards the upper end portion of said upper section of saidcontainer, a cooling coil disposed in said upper section of saidcontainer in the flow path of said vapors, distribution means disposedin said upper section of said container downstream of the flow path ofsaid vapors, said lower section of said container containing a portionof said gasoline, refrigeration means operably associated with saidgasoline in said lower section of said container to refrigerate saidgasoline, means to supply said refrigerated gasoline to said coolingcoil and said distribution means to cause said vapors to be cooled andto cause said gasoline to be distributed and exposed to said flowingcooled vapors to effect absorbtion of said cooled vapors by saidrefrigerated gasoline, and means to discharge only said exposed gasolineand vapors absorbed thereby from said container.
 7. Method of collectingand recovering vapors evolved during the filling of a tank with avolatile liquid, comprising: collecting the vapors in a container,cooling said vapors, cooling a portion of said volatile liquid,absorbing said cooled vapors in a flow of said cooled volatile liquidwithin the container, and recovering only said flow of volatile liquidand vapors absorbed therein from the container.
 8. Method of collectingand recovering vapors evolved during the filling of a tank withgasoline, comprising: collecting the vapors in a container, cooling saidvapors, cooling a portion of said gasoline, distributing said cooledgasoline within the container in the flow of said vapors to absorb saidvapors, and recovering only said distributed gasoline and said vaporsabsorbed therein from said container.